Top Down vs. Bottom Up

How does the old saying go again? “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” The importance of grassroots programmes has never been more apparent in an age where the rich and poor are growing further apart. Climate Change is having the greatest social, political and environmental impacts on the world’s poorest, so what is the best way of tackling these issues? Are grassroots enough to get the job done, and ultimately avoid conflict?

Grassroots programmes offer the opportunity to make a difference in areas which otherwise may receive no attention. Take Africa for example. This region of the world has done the least to contribute to climate change, however will be impacted the greatest (APP, 2015). It is therefore vital that programmes such as the Village Water Project are set up. 17 successful wells have been built from 2009 to 2014; providing nearly 4,000 people with clean, disease-free water. However, it is more than just water for these people. Communities are encouraged to work together to develop in a sustainable way, empowering them and giving them the means to fend for themselves. There are many benefits of this on women, as discussed in my previous post, as well as agricultural benefits and additionally reducing potential conflict over water boundaries. 

Both Kisilu and Sawadogo are great examples of how an individual can make a difference through community action. However, what is the likelihood of these projects succeeding on such a small scale? How necessary is the intervention from big co-operations? With the Global Goals having such a focus on Climate Change and WASH this year, the answer is pretty obvious. At the end of the day it is global policy and decision-makers which are in the driving seat to carry these through and make 'real' change in the world; the kind of change that is going to make a global difference in combating climate action. However, let us not discourage the efforts of such grassroots projects. Great change has to begin somewhere.